Kentucky Teacher

By Susan Riddell
susan.riddell@education.ky.gov

Julie Bunnell explains the procedure for a science experiment testing pH levels of local water sources to 4th-grade students at the CELTIC Academy (Glasgow Independent). Photo by Amy Wallot, Sept. 18, 2012

They miss out on regular class time, but students attending the Creating Enriched Learning Through Innovative Curriculum (CELTIC) Academy say the out of class time is  worth it:

“We learned ahead of our grade level.”

“Here, we listen and do.”

“It helped me learn more about things we only studied for a short time.”

“It teaches you like (regular) school, but with higher-level questions.”

“It enhanced our content areas.”

“You got to learn things in a different way than you would in (regular) school.”

Enhancing learning and giving higher-achieving students an opportunity to dig deeper into content were key motivators in the creation of the academy, according to director Tina Steen. Continue Reading

By Matthew Tungate
matthew.tungate@education.ky.gov

Commissioner of Education Terry Holliday and KBE chairman David Karem at the Kentucky Board of Education meeting in Frankfort, Ky. Photo by Susan Riddell, Oct. 9, 2012

The Kentucky Board of Education is moving ahead with a regulation on the seclusion and restraint of students, but only after clarifying and amending several sections that raised concerns among education stakeholders.

However, another proposed regulation, which would limit the help special education students could receive on state mathematics and reading fluency assessments, has been delayed to give Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) staff time to revise it.

KDE General Counsel Kevin Brown updated the board on both proposed regulations at its October meeting.

He said the seclusion and restraint regulation still requires all Kentucky teachers receive annual training on how to reduce the need for physical restraints or seclusion. It also prohibits the use of restraint and seclusion for reasons such as punishment or to prevent property damage and includes requirements for notifying parents when restraint and seclusion are used.

The changes clarify when teachers may restrain a student and remove some reporting requirements that many districts found burdensome. Continue Reading